Container pouring spout



p 1935. J. M. HOTHERSALL. 2,013,655

CONTAINER POURING SPOUT Filed Sept. 8, 1953 ATTORNEYS azdfivyloRz 4 IPatented Sept. 10, 1935 PATENT OFFlCE CONTAINER POURING SPOUT.

John M. Hothersall Brooklyn, N.-Y., assignor to American Can Company,New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application September a,1933, Serial No. 688,677

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to container dispensing and has particularreference to sealed containers or cans provided with pouring spoutseffective for use by a sliding of the spouts into pro- 6 jecting pouringposition and which after dispensing of a part of the can contents fromthe opened can may be returned to non-projecting position and form atemporary closurei' An important object of the invention is the pro- 1vision of a closed can having a depression or seat formed in its wallfor slidably retaining a pouring spout which is movable into pouringposition by partial withdrawal from its seat and which assists in theproper discharge of the contents of 15 the opened can when so withdrawn,and which also closes the opened can after it has been slid back intoconfined position within its seat.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a curved pouringspout having sliding en-' 20 gagement within a curved depression formedin the can, the curvature permitting raising of the spout over the rimof the can, with the spout end \projecting in pouring position beyondthe rim,

this raising action being effected by withdrawa1 of 25 the spout, atthesame time sliding it within its seat.

The invention also contemplates the provision of a slidable curvedreenforced pouring spout confined, in one position, within the can wall,the lat- 30 ter being initially closed to seal its contents duringshipment, the can being opened by a piercing of v its wall at a point inalignment with a discharge opening in the spout when the latter ispositioned for pouring, following which the spout may be slid 35 backinto confined and protected position within the can walls, and 'inthelatter position it acts as a temporary reclosure.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better under- I 40 stood from the following description, which,taken in connection withthe accompanying drawing, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

' Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view partially broken 45 away of a canembodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of apart of thecontainer illustrated in Fig. .1; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged sectional views taken substantially along theline 33 in Fig. 2, the

former view illustrating a pouring spout fully seated within the sealedcan wall prior to opening of the can; and Fig. 4 illustrating the opened-can with pouring spout withdrawn into pouring position.

55 An embodiment of the invention as exemplified any suitable manner asby the usualdouble seam.

The top horizontalwall of the end l3 (designated bythe numeral I4) isspaced a short distance be- 5 low the seamed edge l5 which provides a.surrounding rim for the top of the can.

A depression 2| is formed in the wall I4 and is outlined by spacedhorizontal walls 22, an end wall 23 and a connecting curved bottom wall24. The curvature of the wall 24' and its location within the top of thecan is such as to merge this curved wall. directly into the horizontalwall M at the left end (Figs. 3.and 4) of the depression, this beingopposite to the end wall 23. The wall 24 is preferably weakened in twoplaces by score lines or otherwise, a scored star 25 (Fig.2) and asimilar star 26 (Fig. 1) being illustrated for this purpose. The curvedcan wall 24 is adapted to be punctured at these places in any suitablemanner as by a pressing in of the metal at the scored star to provide a.dispensing opening and at the. star 26 toprovide a vent opening. Anysuitable puncturing tool may be used for the breaking of the wall at thetwo points and 25' this action constitutes an opening of the can, aswill be hereinafter more fully described. Until the can is thus openedfor pouring the top is entirely closed in an hermetic manner.

A pouring spout 3| is provided and is preferably 30 formed with a curvedwall 32 shaped to correspond with the curved can-wall 24 and the spoutwall hasjs'ide reenforcing curls 33 which extend nearly its full length.Thesecurled sides hold the wall 32 e in its curved shape. 35

The spout 3| is adapted for sliding movement within the depression 2|and to permit easy manipulation one end is curled over into a fingerhold h, 34. The spout has a longitudinal movement within the depressionand is retained in sliding position by a strap 35 which is formed withside wings 36, the latter connecting with the center of the strapincurved holdingseats 31. f

Strap 35 is mounted on the can wall l4 and its side wings 36 aresecuredto thewall'on opposite sides of thedepression 2| in any suitablemanner, as by welding. The center part 'of the strap extends across thedepression and its formed seats 31 slidably engage the reenforcing curls33 of the pouring spout'i-H, this construction making 5 a, bettersliding connectionfor the spout.

When the filled can is sealedv and'shippedthe pouring spout 3| is fullydisposed within the depression 2|, as illustrated in Fig- 3, its fingerhold end 34 abutting against the end wall 23 of the way. This permitsstacking of one can on another.

When the can is to be opened the spout al is first partially withdrawnor pushed-out of its seat (Fig. 4) theflnger hold 34 provi easymanipulationfor this purpose. By'reason of the 1' its attendantadvantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and itwill be apparent curvature of the can wall 24 and the spout wall 3|, aspreviously setiorth, the end ofthe spout iselevated above whenpulled outand projects a substantial distance beyond the can. The finger holdjifistrikes against the back edge of the strap 35 and this provides a stopfor definitely locating the spout in its pouring'position.

The strap 35 is provided with an aperture 38 and the spout wall 3| issimilarly apertured at 39, the two openings 38; 39 when the spout is inpouring position, being in alignment with one another and in alignmentand directly above the scored star formed in the curved wall 24 of thespout seat'. The can is opened by inserting any suitable pointedinstrument through the apertures 38, 39"and puncturing the can wallforcing down the metal at 'themcore'd star 25 and forming a perforation4! (Fig. 4) i A second perforation .42 is also preferably madein the canwall by forcing down the metal adjacent the star 26, this part of thewall being free of the spout at suchtime. With the can opened in thismanner and the pouring spout in extended position, dispensingof the cancontents is had'by suitably holding and tipping the can so that itscontents flows out. through the perforation 4i, apertures .39, 38 andthence along the top surface of the strap (bee tweenthe "formed walls31) and thence over the top surface 'of the wall 32 of the spout betweenits side curls 33 and out over its end, the point of discharge being ata distancebeyond the rim l5 of the can.

\with many products for which sucha can is used only small quantitieswill be withdrawn'at a time and after each pouring'mction the can isagain returned to its upright position (Fig. 4). Where the contents is aliquid, such as cooking oil,; there will be some clingage to the spoutand;

strap parts. After the can has been i'etnrned to upright positionthisliquid will drain back and most of it passes back through the openings38,

39, 4l. Some of the drainage, Amwever, parbelow orback'oi. thestrapaperture "Thewall3 is preferably cut thro h the wall at the base of, thecurled finger hold- 34 and the liquid flow-- i Over the back of thestrap passes through this drainage opening Flowing down ,along the uppersurface of the depression wall 24 it passes back in the can by way ofthe vent aperture 42. When the slide spout II is pushed back into intoits seated position within the depression 2| any adhering liquid will becarriedback and into the vent opening 42. 1- Where a rectangular canbody-1| ,is desired, this being a popular cooking oil of compound, thepouring 'spoutdepression 2| is preferably formed along a diagonal line,which passes through one corner of the, can, this being illustratediinthe present embodiment. of the invention. Such an arrangement permits 1a merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

2 ofthe mut II isformed, withga drainage" hole 45 (Figs. 1 and 4) whichstyle of can for, vegetable -.t

positioning of" the extended end of thepouring spout out and over thecorner of the can and in many (ways is more desirable as a pouringposition than it would be along the straight side of the can. It is ofcourse immaterial as far as that variouschanges may be made in the form,construction and arrangement oi'the parts without departingfromthespirit and scope of the the present invention is concerned where-theinventicn or sacrificing all of its material ad- 15 vantages, the formhereinbefore described being I claim:

1. A container having a rim 'and comprisinga wall having a biu'veddepression directed upwardat its outer end, the portion of the wallwithin the depression being closed and adapted to be perforatedto open'the'container, and a; curved 'pouring spout slidably engaged withinsaid de pression and movable along said depression and over said rimandv intoa pouring position, said spout having an aperture which isadapted for alignment with the perforation formed in theopened'contain'er for dispensing of the contain- 30 ers contents by wayof the spout.

2. A container comprising a ,wall having a curved depression surroundedrim. the portion of the wall within the depression having a weakenedclosed portion adapted to be perforated to open the container, and acurved pouring spout slidably engaged within said-depression and movableinto pouring position with its outer end extending beyond and r oversaid rim, said spout having an aperture by "a projecting which isadapted for alignment with-the perfora- 40 tion formed in the openedcontainer for dispensing the container contents by-way ofthe spout andover said rim. v

3. A container comprising a wall having a depression formed thereinwhich is set 011 by side walls and a connecting curved wall, thedepression being surrounded by a projecting rim, and

apouring spout having a curved wall adapted "j for sliding engagementwith the connecting curved wall of said depression, the curvature ofsaid container wall said'depression walland being such as to permit theraising of one end ,of the spout over saidprojecting rim when the'spout, is slid into its pouring position and said depression alsoprovides substantial confinement,

of the said spout when it is moved into nonpouring position, bothcontainer and spout having discharge openings after the container isopened which are brought into alignment by' movenient; of the spout intopouring position.

4. A container comprising a rectangular body, bottom and top endssecured to said body and sealing said container, said top end havingacurved depression formed along a-diagonal line projecting through onecomer of said body and provided with side and, bottom walls, the latter,being closed and weakened and adapted to be perforated to open thecontainer, and a curved pouring spout havingsliding movement withinsaiddepression and into a pouringposition with one end projecting beyond theadjacent corner of the said body; the said spout having anaperturefadapted for registration in its discharge positionvwith theperforation in the bottom wall of said opened container to provide fordispensing 75" of the container contents through said spout. 5. Acontainer comprising abody, bottom and top. ends secured to said-bodyand sealing said container, said top end having a depression formed withside and end walls and a curved bottom wall, the latter being closedandadapted to be'pe'rforated to open the container, and a sliding pouringspout fitting within said depression and having a bottom apertured wallshaped to fit the curve of said curved depression wall and having afinger hold by means of which the spout is moved into a pouring positionwithone end projecting beyond said container body.

and with its aperture in alignment with the perforation made in thecontainer, said-finger hold also providing means by which the spout ismoved into a non-pouring position against the.

endwall of said depression.

ii. A container comprising a wall having a depression, a portion of thewall within the depres: sion being'closed and weakened and 'adapted'to Abe perforated to form a dispensing opening and opening in said strap andwith said vent openingin the container uncovered, said spout also beingmovable into anon-pouring position with both dispensing and ventopenings covered.

g 3 '1. A container comprising a wall having a depression, a scoredportion of the wall within the depression being weakened and adapted tobe perforated'to form a dispensing opening, a pouring spout locatedin'saiddepression and having 5 an aperture extending through a wallthereof and also having'curled reenforcing side walls 'on opposite sidesof said aperture, and a retaining strap secured to-said container walland having formed portions to slidably fit the side walls 0t said spoutand-having an aperture between said formed portions, said strapextending over said depression and slidably holding said pouring spouttherein, the latter being movable into a pouring 'positionwith its saidaperture in alig'nment between said container dispensing opening and theaperture in said strap. I

' 8. A pouring spout for a liquid container comprising a curved spoutadapted for sliding engagement within a depression formed in the wall ofthe container, said curved spout having discharge and apertures, theformer being adapted for registration with a discharge opening formed inthe container wall, a finger hold formed at one end of said spout andproviding forits movement relative to said container, and reenforcingside members formed along the edges of said-curved wall for retainingthe curved shape of the spout wall and for. maintaining its sliding fitwith the container wall, said drainag'e aperture permitting the drainingback, into the container, of liquid clinging to the spout after it hasbeen used for pouring.

JOHN no'rnnasam. s5

